CO885-24 — Page 122

PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE

Reference :-

CO. 885

24 PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON

ALLY WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE BE REPRODUCED PHOTOGRAPHIC- COPYRIGHT PHOTOGRA GENOT TO

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15. During December the reinforcements above referred to were despatched, the column of Northern Rhodesia Police moving from Sakania through "Belgian territory to Fort Rosebery, thence to Abercorn, where it arrived on the 3rd February. The European Volunteers, Northern Rhodesia Rifles, who were provided with ox-transport, marched from Kashitu, and arrived on the border on the 12th February, a very fine performance considering the bad state of the roads owing to the heavy rains. In the meanwhile the Belgian battalion returned to Abercorn from Mporokoso on the 26th January. The arrival of these reinforcements caused increased activity on the part of the enemy.

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16. On the 26th a patrol under Captain McCarthy on the border killed one and captured eleven of the enemy's ruga ruga" (levies). On the 17th March a party of the enemy consisting of five Europeans and 150 to 200 native soldiers attacked a patrol composed of Belgian and Northern Rhodesia Police, under Captain McCarthy, at Zombe village, on the Sanfu River, close to the German border, but were repulsed and pursued, leaving one European officer and three native soldiers dead on the field. Our losses were one European Volunteer and three native The previous Belgian soldiers killed and two Belgian native soldiers wounded. night the Germans crossed the border and, entering a small village at dawn the next Six dead bodies were day, proceeded to shoot the inhabitants indiscriminately.

The chief stated that he saw a seen by our people, four men and two women. German officer shoot a woman, carrying a child on her back, at about five yards range. On the 15th March the situation on the border was reported to be unchanged.

17. During the entire period covered by this report it has not been possible to co-operate in any way with the troops of the Nyasaland Government. Exchange of intelligence has, however, been maintained throughout in the early part of the war by telegraph and later on, since the destruction of the line between Fife and Karonga, by runners.

18. The difficulties connected with the rapid transmission of intelligence from the border to Livingstone have been considerable, owing to the entire destruction of the telegraph line, removal of posts and wire between Fife and Karonga, and in a The connecting up of Abercorn and smaller degree between Abercorn and Fife.

Kasama by telephone has lessened the delay to a certain extent, but even at the present time an urgent and pressing despatch takes more than ten days to come from Abercorn to Broken Hill.

General.-North-East.

19. The strain on the Northern Rhodesia Police on the north-eastern border prior to the arrival of the Belgian troops and during their temporary absence in November and December has been very great. The work comprised the strengthen- ing by means of block-houses and entrenchments of both Abercorn and Fife, the protection of the telegraph line, constant patrols, and watchfulness in very inclement weather. So well have both officers and men performed their duties that it is would, however, bring to notice difficult to select anyone for special mention.

the good work done by Lieut.-Colonel II. M. Stennett, who commanded the forces from the end of August until 13th December, 1914, and Captain J. J. McCarthy Lieutenant for his enterprise and zeal and work performed in the field. A. C. Cussans, Northern Rhodesia Police, for his action in leading a successful counter-attack on the night of the 28th December, when Fife was attacked, against a superior force of the enemy. The morale of the Northern Rhodesia Police is high, and their health bas in no way suffered from the continuous rain which has fallen since October. As individuals they are, man for man, infinitely superior in every respect to the German native troops. They have-thanks to the ability of the civil officials in the Tanganyika district and in this respect I would mention the name of Mr. Chesnaye, District Officer, Tanganyika district-been kept well supplied with The Northern Rhodesia food, and have invariably worked willingly and well. Volunteers have since their arrival on this frontier been stationed near Fife, and have carried out their duties with great keenness and energy.

General-Southern Rhodesia,

20. In Southern Rhodesia some 75 British South Africa Police were mobilised in August and despatched to Northern Rhodesia to protect its south-western border. No military operations were undertaken that merit special mention. All

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ranks worked with a will, and the morale of the force is exceptionally good. The heaviest portion of the work fell on the Headquarters Staff, and I am indebted to Major T. S. Masterman, who, in addition to carrying out his duties as Controller of the Defence Force, was acting as Chief Staff Officer; and also to Major F. R. Burnside, 3rd Hussars, who was at that time, and prior to his appointment to com- I would with due mand the 1st Rhodesia Regiment, acting as my Staff Officer. respect bring the names of both these officers to Your Excellency's notice.

Rhodesia Contingents.

21. Council

On the 22nd October the following resolution was passed by the Legislative

"That the Government be requested to recruit and train forthwith in Southern Rhodesia 1,000 men to be placed at the disposal of the Imperial Government for active service in this territory or elsewhere. If their services should be required for any place outside South Africa, that the contingent shall be provided on terms similar to those on which contingents are provided by other parts of the Empire."

Prior to the passing of this resolution permission had been granted to raise a contingent of 500 infantry. Recruiting was opened as early as the 9th of the month for the 1st Rhodesia Regiment, with an establishment of 525 all ranks, and on the 22nd, as this number had been obtained, recruiting was stopped. The regiment was encamped at Salisbury and placed under the temporary command of Major F. R. Burnside, 3rd Hussars, an officer having exceptional service, which included active service with an infantry regiment. With the keenness possessed, together with the high standard of intelligence of all ranks and a high morale and esprit de corps, the regiment rapidly attained efficiency. Their behaviour was excellent, and discipline was maintained without difficulty. The regiment was armed, clothed, and equipped by the Defence Department. On the 1st November the regiment entrained at Salisbury for Kimberley, whence they proceeded to Bloemfontein to assist the Union troops to crush the rebellion, and in December embarked for service in German South-West Africa.

2nd Rhodesia Regiment.

22. On the 16th November the services of a second contingent were accepted for Imperial service by the Imperial Government. Recruiting for the second regi- ment had, however, commenced as early as the 23rd October, 1914, and the nucleus was formed of the overflow of men from the first regiment.

Training camps were opened at Salisbury, Gwelo, and Bulawayo. Owing to some uncertainty among intending recruits as to where the regiment would be employed and the fear that it would be kept in Rhodesia without any immediate prospect of seeing active service, recruiting was not brisk. A notice to the Press on the 5th January, 1915, had satisfactory results, and on the 15th the regiment had completed its establishment of 475 all ranks.

Company training having been carried out, the detachments at Gwelo and Bulawayo joined headquarters at Salisbury, where the regiment was concentrated in camp on the 24th January under command of Major A. E. Capell, D.S.O., British South Africa Police, and commenced battalion training. Owing to the paucity of senior officers in Rhodesia who had previous infantry training and to the regrettable death of Captain Alwynne Moses, the Adjutant, considerable difficulty experienced in carrying out the training of this regiment, while the heavy rains which fell continuously during the period it was in camp retarded its instruction. Qualified musketry instructors, members of the British South Africa Police, were, however, available, and the regiment consequently was more efficiently trained in this most important and valuable service than in other respects.

was

Early in February information was received that the regiment should proceed on active service to German East Africa, but it was not until the 8th March that a vessel could be procured in which to transport it. The men of this regiment, like those of the first, were of excellent physique. Throughout the period the regiment was encamped at Salisbury their behaviour was all that could be desired, while the keenness and esprit de corps evinced by all ranks did much to carry it over.a most trying period. This regiment was also armed, clothed, and equipped in Southern Rhodesia. The arms and equipment are, however, being replaced by the Imperial Government.

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